Republican governor candidate Bruce Rauner urged Asian-Americans to vote for him over Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn during a stop in Chinatown today, with a former member of a rival GOP ticket encouraging voters to look beyond party labels.

Rauner, the GOP nominee, received encouragement from Steve Kim, who was the lieutenant governor running mate of rival Republican governor candidate Dan Rutherford, the state treasurer. Appearing at a Chinatown restaurant, Kim acknowledged Quinn has been “active” in the Asian-American community, but said it wasn’t enough.

“I believe this election is more than just about a person. It’s more important than just the Republican Party. It’s about the state of Illinois. It’s about the future of Illinois. It’s about the future generation of Illinois,” said Kim, who also was the GOP’s unsuccessful 2010 nominee for attorney general against Democratic incumbent Lisa Madigan.

Kim’s backing for Rauner was interesting, given that Rutherford had blamed Rauner for orchestrating allegations in the primary from a former treasurer’s department worker that he had been sexually harassed by Rutherford and forced to perform political work on state time. Rutherford has denied the allegations and legal action is pending. Rauner said he had nothing to do with the allegations against Rutherford.

Rauner noted the growth in Illinois’ Asian-American population and took on a controversial issue in Republican ranks nationally, saying he wanted to make immigration to the United States easier.

“I’d also like to promote immigration between Asia and America. I’d like to expand immigration opportunities, streamline legal immigration so it’s not as difficult as it is today for those who’d like to come and realize the American dream to come here and have that opportunity,” Rauner said.

Kim, a a managing partner at the Chicago law firm RKJ Legal, made no mention of the pre-primary dust up between Rutherford and Rauner.